University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Clemson
Merritt and Sexton Open Indoor Season on Positive Note
December 05, 2003 | Men's Track
Dec. 5, 2003
CLEMSON, S.C. -- The Volunteer contingent helping dedicate a new indoor facility Friday night at the Clemson Opener was small, but hurdler Aries Merritt and thrower Jim Sexton gave Tennessee reason to celebrate. Both Vols showcased improvement made during fall training to offer up solid performances at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Facilty.
True freshman Merritt, a Marietta, Ga., native, tied Clemson's Lydell Perry for the day's fastest qualifier in the 60m hurdles. Merritt and Perry clocked in at 8.05 in the first heat. Both will meet again in Saturday's final.
Sexton offered up a 55-4.75 lifetime-best heave in the 35-lb. weight throw, a rarity in a season-opening meet. The redshirt sophomore from Knoxville Central showed no signs of rust, however, and obviously made gains with regard to technique and strength during the fall training regimen.
Meanwhile, Craig Sutherland contributed a respectable 8.30 clocking to tie for ninth in the 60m hurdles. Sutherland's time lacks just .01 of a second from matching his lifetime best from last season. Also, in training for the heptathlon, multieventers Blake Sabo, 8.33, and freshman Chris Helwick, 8.80, took 11th and 24th, respectively, in the 60m hurdles.
Sabo and Helwick also competed in the 60m dash. Sabo ran a 7.39 to finish 35th in the large field. Helwick managed a 7.50 in his first collegiate sprint to finish 37th.
Merritt lines up in the 60m hurdles finals Saturday. Meanwhile, Sexton is scheduled to go in the shot put. Sabo and Helwick are entered in the high jump and 300m dash. Finally, Jeff Trembley and Mike Yurcho take to the pole vault runway.
